Wings to retire 66

From Wingslax.com

The Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) will honor former player and second all-time leading scorer Jake Bergey by retiring his No. 66 jersey when the Wings take on the Edmonton Rush at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Bergey played his entire 10 year NLL career with the Wings, finishing as the team’s second leading scorer in team history in goals and points (256 career goals, 557 points). He also ranks second overall in team history for assists (301 career assists). Bergey played in 133 regular season games and was a member of the 1998 and 2001 NLL Champion’s Cup teams.

An alumnus of Salisbury State University in Maryland, Bergey was a three-time All-American. His father, Bill Bergey, received All-Pro honors four times as a Philadelphia Eagle.

“Jake was a critical component to our last 2 championship teams,” said Wings President and Owner Michael French. “He could score, make plays and most importantly with his physical presence, create space for players like Tom Marechek. He was always a character guy with a ‘team first’ attitude. Jake continues to be a very active and loyal alum who has always made himself available to the wings organization. We are excited to see Jake’s jersey raised alongside Tom Marechek’s and Dallas Eliuk’s.”

Bergey had this to say about the honor, “I am extremely honored and humbled to be recognized by the wings organization in this way. I was very lucky to be a part of this team and this city for 11 years. To be repaid like this is beyond my wildest dream.”

NLL Transactions for Nov 27

11/27/2013
BUFFALO BANDITS: have signed Derek Suddons to a two-year agreement.

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS: have signed Daryl Veltman and Colin Hall to one-year agreements.

EDMONTON RUSH: have signed Robert Church to a two-year agreement.

PHILADELPHIA WINGS: have released Matt Alrich, Brandon Francis, Ryan McFadden, and Matt Zash.

PHILADELPHIA WINGS: have placed Luke Wiles on the Protected Player List.

TORONTO ROCK: have signed Colin Doyle to a three-year agreement.

VANCOUVER STEALTH: have signed Rhys Duch and Athan Iannucci to one-year agreements.

VANCOUVER STEALTH: have signed Lewis Ratcliff to a two-year agreement.

Nov 25 -26 Transactions

11/26/2013
BUFFALO BANDITS: have signed Ryan Benesch to a two-year agreement.

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS: have signed Peter McFetridge, Tor Reinholdt, Cam Copland, Brett Baron, and Pete Dubenski to one year agreements.

EDMONTON RUSH: have signed Aaron Bold and Zack Greer to two-year agreements.

EDMONTON RUSH: have matched the offer sheet tendered by the Buffalo Bandits to restricted free agent Ryan Dilks and sign him to a four-year agreement.

MINNESOTA SWARM: have signed Jordan Houtby to a one-year agreement.

MINNESOTA SWARM: have signed Logan Schuss to a two-year agreement.

TORONTO ROCK: have signed Stephen Hoar, Dustin Dunn, Craig Wende, Jeff Swift, Eric Pitre, Eric Law, Craig England, Mike Woods, Brendan Thenhaus, Bradley Kri, Ethan O’Connor, and Alex Lubczuk to one-year agreements.

11/25/2013
BUFFALO BANDITS: have made a qualified offer to Restricted Free Agent Edmonton Rush player Ryan Dilks. The Edmonton Rush have the right to match the offer under the terms of the CBA.
– See more at: http://www.nll.com/transactions#sthash.5kctcvHl.dpuf

Dilks signs offer sheet with Bandits

From NLL.com

The National Lacrosse League has announced that the Buffalo Bandits have signed restricted free agent Ryan Dilks to an offer sheet. The Edmonton Rush now have the right to match the offer within 72 hours, with a deadline of 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 28, in order to retain the defenseman on their roster.

Dilks is entering his fourth NLL season and has spent the last two years with the Rush. The Hamilton, Ontario native has recorded 21 points (12+9), 140 loose balls and 26 penalty minutes in 44 career games played along with three points (1+2) and 11 loose balls in three playoff games.

Dilks is the second RFA to sign an offer sheet with another club during this year’s free agent signing period. Mac Allen signed with the Rochester Knighthawks last week after the Colorado Mammoth opted not to match the offer.
– See more at: http://www.nll.com/news_article/show/313346?referrer_id=389123#sthash.0U5AnDgz.dpuf

Recent NLL Transactions

11/24/2013
BUFFALO BANDITS: have placed Chad Culp on the Active Roster from the Injured Reserve List.

BUFFALO BANDITS: have placed Jamie Rooney on the Active Roster from the Physically Unable to Perform List.

BUFFALO BANDITS: have signed Dylan Goddard, Mike McNamara, Dhane Smith, Joe Resetarits, Steve Priolo, Rory Smith, Andrew Watt to one year agreements.

PHILADELPHIA WINGS: have signed Pat Saunders to a one year agreement.

ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS: have signed Jon Sullivan to a one year contract and have placed him on the Active Roster from the Hold Out List.

ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS: have signed Mike Cregan and Brandon Styres to one year agreements.
The Rochester Knighthawks have signed Cory Vitarelli to a three year agreement.

11/23/2013
ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS: have secured the rights to Restricted Free Agent Mac Allen and have signed him to a one year agreement. The Colorado Mammoth did not match within 72 hours of notice.

11/22/2013
BUFFALO BANDITS: have placed Alex Kedoh Hill on the Protected Player List.

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS: have placed Brendan Ranford on the Inactive Roster – Draft List.

COLORADO MAMMOTH: have signed Casey Powell to a one year agreement.

ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS: have signed Tom Johnson and Ian Duffy to one year agreements.

VANCOUVER STEALTH: have placed Mitch McMichael on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
– See more at: http://www.nll.com/transactions#sthash.gvAqueft.dpuf

Doyle signs for three years

From NLL.com

The Toronto Rock have announced that the team has re-signed captain and all-time franchise scoring leader Colin Doyle to a three-year contract through the 2016 season.

Doyle has won six NLL Champion’s Cups, all with the Rock, during his 16-year career. As the 36-year old Kitchener, Ontario native enters his 17th NLL season, 2014 will mark his 14th with the Rock franchise. His three seasons away from Toronto were spent with the San Jose Stealth (2007 to 2009).

“Colin Doyle is the face of the Toronto Rock,” said Rock owner and president Jamie Dawick. “Colin is a leader on and off the floor and exemplifies everything it is to be a member of this franchise.”

Doyle is the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (397), assists (585) and points (982). There are also a couple of career milestones on the horizon in 2014 for the Rock captain. He is approaching 1,000 points and 400 goals as a member of the Rock as well as 500 career goals.

Recently, the Rock handed the franchise tag to their captain making him their one and only franchise player for the 2014 season. Teams are permitted to designate two players as franchise players enabling those players to earn 25 percent more than the league’s maximum salary.

The Rock have also signed veteran defender Stephen Hoar to a one-year agreement.

2014 Toronto Rock Season Tickets and the brand new Toronto Rock Season Pass are on sale now. The Toronto Rock Season Pass gets you a seat for all nine regular season home games at Air Canada Centre for just $99.99. Single game tickets are also on sale for all nine regular season home games including the 2014 Home Opener on January 3rd against Calgary. For more information, please visit http://www.torontorock.com or phone 416-596-3075 to speak with a ticket representative get your hands on the BEST ticket in town.

Bandits sign nine

By NLL.com
Buffalo also agrees with D. Smith, R. Smith, Thorimbert, Watt & more
Buffalo Bandits general manager Steve Dietrich has announced that the team has signed the following players all to one-year contracts: Dhane Smith, Rory Smith, Mike McNamara, Steve Priolo, Joe Resetarits, Dylan Goddard, Jay Thorimbert and Andrew Watt. In addition, Buffalo has also agreed to terms with Ryan Benesch on a two-year deal.

Dhane Smith enters 2014 on the heels of a stellar rookie season last year in which he finished atop all Bandits players with 24 goals and 113 shots, as well as third with 44 points (24+20). His rookie season goal and point totals placed him second among all-time Bandits rookies for a single season. He was also named to the NLL All-Rookie Team on top of being crowned NLL Rookie of the Week for Week 16 after a four point effort (3+1) against Rochester.

Rory Smith has appeared in 85 career games since 2008, tallying six points (0+6), 337 penalty minutes and 237 loose balls. During the 2013 season, he registered 51 penalty minutes and zero points in 15 games.

McNamara played in nine games for Buffalo during the 2013 season, tallying three assists and recovering 24 loose balls. He recovered a season-high five loose balls at Toronto (2/28) and also registered a pair of assists at Philadelphia (1/11).

Priolo, appeared in all 16 games for the Bandits last season, tallying seven points (2+5) and tying for first among Bandits players as well as fifth in the NLL with David Brock in PIM (46). He also finished second among Buffalo players with 76 loose ball recoveries.

Resetarits, a native of nearby Hamburg, NY, was acquired from Calgary on Sept. 16, along with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NLL Draft, in exchange for the 10th overall selection in the 2013 Draft and a second-round selection in 2015. In his rookie campaign last season, the 24-year old suited up in 14 games for Calgary, recording 24 points (8+16) and recovering 24 loose balls, also notching three points (2+1) over three postseason contests.

Goddard, Buffalo’s sixth-round choice (53rd overall) in the 2013 NLL Draft, spent last season as a member of the Clarington Green Gaels (OLA Junior B). The Courtice, Ontario native finished second in league scoring with 120 points, while also becoming the Green Gaels’ all-time assists leader. He is also a two-time OLA Junior B MVP and scoring leader.

Thorimbert appeared in all 16 games for Buffalo last season, leading the team and establishing career-highs in faceoff percentage (61.0%), faceoff wins (261) and loose ball recoveries (180). Over his five year, 69 game career, he has notched 48 points (18+30) to go along with 570 loose balls.

Watt, acquired on Jul. 15 from Minnesota, along with Ryan Benesch, in exchange for a first-round selections in the 2015 and 2016 NLL Entry Draft and a third-round selection in the 2017 NLL Entry Draft. He is coming-off a season in which he appeared in 12 games for Minnesota and contributed nine points (6+3) before adding an assist in one playoff outing.

Benesch, acquired along with Watt in the aforementioned trade, notched 84 points (34+50) for Minnesota, good for seventh-best in the NLL, as well as 16 points over two playoff games. The 28-year old heads into the 2014 campaign just three years removed from an NLL-high 46 goal and 95 point season and has notched 486 points (210+276) in 103 career games.

The Bandits opened training camp in preparation for the 2014 NLL season on Sat., Nov. 23. Below is the club’s full training camp roster:

Benesch, Ryan
Brock, David
Boucher, Colin
Brownell, Kevin
Bryan, Glen
Cosmo, Anthony
Critch, Jordan
Culp, Chad
Diachenko, Nick
Fryer, Steven
Goddard, Dylan
Hominuck, Mike
Hopcroft, Derek
Johnston, Scott
Larkin, Cliff
Mathews, Joel
McNamara, Mike
Penney, Eric
Petkoff, Drew
Priolo, Steve
Pym, Kevin
Resetarits, Joe
Rooney, Jamie
Smith, Billy Dee
Smith, Dhane
Smith, Hayden
Smith, Rory
Steenhuis, Mark
Suddons, Derek
Tavares, John
Thorimbert, Jay
Wagar, Kurtis
Watt, Andrew
Wilde, Mitch
Williams, Shawn
Wilson, Aaron

NLL makes Under Armour deal official

From NLL.com

The National Lacrosse League is proud to announce Under Armour (NYSE:UA) as the league’s new exclusive supplier of performance apparel, footwear & equipment through the 2016 season. NLL players will proudly compete in the new Under Armour® apparel and equipment when the 2014 season begins on December 28.

Under Armour will provide NLL athletes with state-of-the-art performance training apparel, baselayer and footwear including the UA Micro G® Gridiron training shoes. Additionally, players will be some of the first to compete with custom Under Armour Charge Gloves and new Under Armour Charge 2 lacrosse heads.

“We are proud to be in partnership with Under Armour, a leader in innovation and performance,” said George Daniel, Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League. “NLL players will now be empowered with the finest lacrosse equipment and apparel in the industry.”

“This new partnership with the NLL provides Under Armour with the unique opportunity to feature the most technically advanced products at the pinnacle of the sport,” said Jim Bel Bruno, Senior Category Director, Lacrosse, Under Armour. “Our brand is dedicated to making all athletes better and we are excited to demonstrate our continued commitment to the lacrosse category and its athletes through this platform.”

About Under Armour, Inc

Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand’s moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products. The company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.UA.com.

Dallas Eliuk joins Mammoth

From NLL.com

The Colorado Mammoth have announced that legendary former Philadelphia Wings goaltender and NLL Hall of Famer Dallas Eliuk has been named the team’s new goaltending coach.

“Dallas is the best to ever play his position, and was one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time,” said Mammoth president and general manager Steve Govett. “He will mentor our young netminders, and will help our offense understand opposing goalies.”

Eliuk, who was inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2009, was a four-time NLL champion with the Philadelphia Wings, a franchise that he backboned between the pipes for 15 years.

In nearly two decades in the NLL, the Vancouver, British Columbia native amassed 6,356 saves in more than 9,700 minutes played. Eliuk’s save total was the most in league history upon retirement.

Eliuk will work with several young netminders including incumbents Tye Belanger and Dan Lewis along with Dillon Ward, who was taken by Colorado with the third overall selection in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft, the highest draft pick used on a goalie in the league in over a decade.

Wings camp storylines

Does Tracey Kelusky have anything left in the tank?

Can Bill McGlone make the final roster?

Will the American heavy defense continue to develop?

What effect will Jimmy Milligan have on the offense?

Are the kids ready to step in and contribute?